Go the F**k to SLEEP!

Y'all. we gotta stop glorifying the ripping and running for hours and hours and just go tf to sleep.

Welcome back to another #BeautyTuesday! Today is all about beauty rest: how to get it, keep it, and make it work for you. 

There's only so much L.A. Girl Yellow Pro concealer in the world to erase the bags under our eyes, mmkay? At some point we gotta get to the root of our appearance, our attitudes, and our decision-making, and all of these things are grounded in good, decent shut eye. Check out the following tips that you can easily incorporate into your day to develop a productive sleep routine (which leads to a more productive lifestyle overall):

• Warm tea before bed

I'm a big tea drinker, so when I want to feel relaxed I make a cup tea and sip on it during my night time routine (when I'm not too tired to follow it). Yogi's Honey Lavender Stress Relief is my current favorite brew, and chamomile is a tried-and-true remedy to usher in the zzz's

• Melatonin gummies

As always, please consult your physician before you start taking a new supplement. Gummies make it easier for me to take my vitamins, so this choice was a no-brainer for me. I actually found a vegetarian (read: gelatin free) melatonin gummy at Walmart for about $6 and its great when used properly. You can start with half a dose so that your body can get used to it, and always make sure that you make time for melatonin. I know that I personally need at least 7 hours of sleep to feel rested, so I would not take these gummies unless I knew that I could sleep for 7+ hours without impeding on my morning routine. These gummies can help you get more restful sleep, but can make you feel groggy if you don't give it enough time to work in your system

• Tart Cherry Juice

I stumbled upon this remedy when my partner cracked open a bottle before bed. Cherry juice is a natural source of melatonin, and can help you sleep better and deeper

• Aromatherapy and oil diffusion

I bought a diffuser last year because I was determined to make my bedroom my sanctuary. This model did not disappoint. The waterless auto-shutoff feature is perfect for my busy lifestyle, and the unit is easy to use as it also incorporates some soothing chromotherapy as well

• Eye masks

Thankfully, I don't have any issues falling asleep at the moment. But on the off chance that I do encounter a restless night, I keep an eye mask on my nightstand to help me relax and focus on sleep. Eye masks also help to keep your eye creams from being smeared all over the pillowcase as you drift into Lala Land. Target has some cute Wonder Woman inspired masks on sale for $5

• Developing a Sleep Routine

I know it sounds crazy, but I'm finding out more and more that the key to getting things done is compartmentalization. The more that I stick to a routine, the more successful and accomplished I feel. When I'm really on my ish, I carve out an hour to unwind, relax and prepare for bed. Check out my Pinterest board called Bedtime Routines and find some tips you'd like to incorporate. 

• Scheduling sleep

I've been #TeamAndroid since I was 18 but I recently came over to the dark side of iOS, and although most of it is just plain hype (fight me), there are some pretty cool features on the iPhone. The Wake Alarm helps you stay accountable in getting the rest that you need by reminding you when to go to bed to get your desired amount of sleep. Going to bed at a regular time and waking up on time everyday are definitely essential to a healthier mind and body

• Screen time break

My name is Jazzmyn Blu, and I am addicted to my cell phone. As I hang my head in shame and proceed to scroll mindlessly for another half hour, I feel my eyes or head start to hurt which remind me to put the damn phone down. The blue light emitting form our screens are doing the exact opposite of relaxing us. As we scroll, our brains are working overtime to remain alert. If you want more restful sleep, try cutting out the screen time 30 minutes before bed. Sit back, relax and ease ya mind with less screen time before lights out

• Bedtime Yoga

Stretching not only keeps you young and flexible, but its also a great way to warm your body up, release tension and relax. You can do yoga poses in the bed and achieve the same calming effects as you would in a studio. You can find some of these peaceful poses in my linked Pinterest board above

I don't know who came up with this, but it's all the way backwards. Stop grinding backwards.

• Planning

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is where compartmentalization comes back in the conversation. Whether you're using your planner, pulling out your outfits for the week or packing your work bag, planning these tasks on a Sunday night will save you loads of time and stress during the hectic work week. #ThankMeLater

• Scheduling meals

We get the itis because we eat too much in a short time and our blood and energy resources are routed to the gut to try to digest that crazy concoction you just inhaled. Or, we get dizzy and lightheaded from working all day and staring at screens and we starve our bodies from nutrients. Since we're on our phones for everything else, why not help our phones help us? Scheduling your meals (and planning those meals the night before) can keep us on track and healthy and ready to tackle the day's demands. You also want to make sure that your last meal is about 2 hours before you lay it down so that you give your body the proper time to initiate digestion

• Mattress age and firmness

When I tell you that Drake said, " I only love my bed and my mama," I felt that on a spiritual level. Another key to great sleep is a great mattress, and I have just the person to assist you with any bedtime woes. Elaine is a former coworker and she recently guided me and my partner in purchasing our first big kid bed, and she rocked the entire search and transaction. Remember to replace your mattress every 8 years, and when you're ready to sleep in your dream bed, holla at Elaine

• Calcium and Magnesium

Calcium helps the cells in the brain to use tryptophan (the stuff in turkey that makes us sleepy) to create melatonin, while Magnesium helps to decrease the stress hormone Cortisol, which can keep you up at night. A glass of warm goat milk kefir will serve you both calcium and magnesium to help you doze off

• Essential oil mixes (rollerball application)

I am definitely a fan of natural remedies, so #EssentialOilEverything is literally life in a bottle. you can make your own special blends (please make sure you use a carrier oil, especially if you have sensitive skin). My readings have told me that massaging bergamot, lavender, sandalwood, frankincense and mandarin onto your temples before bed can help you attain more restful sleep. You can purchase empty rollerball bottles on Amazon and check your local health food stores for the essential oils

Let me know if any of these tips work for you! and remember to go tf to sleep!

Go the F**k to SLEEP! is an original post and appeared first on BYNKradio.com by Jazzmyn Blu.